Covid has been defeated, you’ve had your vaccine jab and you are finally allowed to leave your home! First thing on the agenda is likely to be booking a holiday abroad.
One of the holiday destinations likely to receive a lot of interest is Egypt and the Red Sea, particularly the areas of Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Alam. But will Egypt be ready to host tourists again or will a sudden influx of holidaymakers lead to problems with your long-awaited break in the sun? Are people going from one health crisis to another?
Holiday Food Poisoning on a Package Holiday
A common complaint from travellers returning to the UK is that they have suffered with illness whilst they have been away. Quite often the illness is nothing more than a simple case of ‘Travellers’ Diarrhoea’, with symptoms lasting no more than a couple of days.
However, many illness incidents are far more serious. Food poisoning is likely to ruin your holiday and see you suffering with illness symptoms for a number of days or weeks and could potentially lead to future health problems.
Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium and E.coli 157 are all horrible pathogenic illnesses that you can suffer with if the hygiene standards are not up to scratch at your hotel.
Am I on a Package Holiday?
If you booked a package holiday with a tour operator such as TUI or First Choice then you are covered under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018. That means you’re allowed to pursue a claim against them.
If you booked the holiday yourself, sorting out flights, transfers and accommodation separately, then you will not be covered by the regulations and will find it difficult to make a claim.
How Do I Know if it’s Food Poisoning?
Food poisoning symptoms include profuse diarrhoea, severe abdominal cramps, vomiting, nausea and headaches. In some cases, severe dehydration occurs which may lead to hospitalisation.
The most common type of infection is bacterial holiday food poisoning from Salmonella, Campylobacter or E.coli.
Confirmation of food poisoning is obtained through a stool sample which will reveal the type of food poisoning and the necessary treatment.
If the infection is viral (i.e. a virus is being spread from person to person), then it will be more difficult to hold the hotel responsible and pursue the tour operator.
How Did I Get Food Poisoning on Holiday?
Holiday food poisoning happens as a result of consuming infected food or drink at a hotel which has failed to follow even the most basic hygiene standards and procedures.
To be able to successfully pursue a holiday food poisoning compensation claim against the tour operator, you’ll need to prove:
- The contaminated food and/or drink was provided by the hotel
- The food served by the hotel formed part of your package holiday
- If you have only eaten or drunk within the confines of your hotel during the holiday, then it is more likely that the source of your holiday food poisoning is the food served at the hotel. Other hotel guests may also be suffering from food poisoning too
Hotel has Given Me Holiday Food Poisoning – What Should I Do?
If you fall ill during your hotel stay and believe it’s because of something you ate, you should:
- Seek medical attention straight away
- Keep hold of any receipts for treatment and medication
- Report your food poisoning illness to the tour operator representative and complete a complaint form
- Report your food poisoning illness to the hotel staff and manager
- Gather the names and addresses of other holidaymakers suffering from food poisoning at the hotel
- Take photographs and/or video of hygiene conditions in the hotel
- On your return home to the UK, visit a doctor if you are still suffering with symptoms of food poisoning
Contact Simpson Millar’s dedicated Travel Team for advice and help
Taking Your Claim for Holiday Food Poisoning Forward
Thousands of holidaymakers each year suffer with food poisoning. Holidays are ruined not through their own fault but because the hotel has been negligent in its preparation and service of food.
You can claim compensation from your tour operator for the food poisoning you contracted on holiday.
Simpson Millar Solicitors has a specialist team of travel lawyers who have years of experience in handling holiday food poisoning claims.
We can provide specialist knowledge of your food poisoning compensation claim and are committed to dealing fully with all aspects of your claim and ensuring you receive the maximum amount of compensation possible for your food poisoning illness.
The Guidelines for compensation amounts for food poisoning are:
£27,450.00 – £37,500.00 – Holidaymakers may suffer food poisoning which has a significant effect on their domestic and social life and has impacted on their daily employment. This is the most severe category of food poisoning and the individual will have required hospital treatment for some time. The claimant is likely to have experienced severe pain and suffering, and has developed complications such as IBS, severe food intolerance, reactive arthritis, anal fissures and possibly incontinence.
£6,850.00 to £13,700.00 – You may have a serious but often short-lived bout of food poisoning, such as Salmonella, E.Coli or Campylobacter, which resolves usually after four weeks but leaves the holidaymaker with some symptoms lasting typically a few years. The individual may suffer from gastric bloating, irregular bowel movements and find they developed intolerance to spicy food.
£2,800.00 to £6,850.00 – This amount could be expected by holidaymakers who make a full recovery from food poisoning within one to two years. The person is likely to have been admitted to a hospital for several days and suffered symptoms including severe stomach cramps, significant changes to bowel habits, lethargy and fatigue.
£650.00 to £2,800.00 – The holidaymaker may have suffered from severe abdominal cramping and watery diarrhoea for a number of days but will have made a complete recovery within a few weeks.
Our expert travel lawyers will advise whether your holiday food poisoning compensation claim is likely to be successful and will explain to you all the possible options available to you to fund your claim, such as our No Win, No Fee arrangement.
Telephone or email Simpson Millar today to discuss making a holiday food poisoning compensation claim against your tour operator.
Popular Egypt Hotels
TUI
Hurghada
– TUI Magic Life Kalawy
– Jaz Makadi Aquaviva
– Jaz Makadi Saraya Splash Resort
– Jaz Aquamarine
– Premier Le Reve
– Fort Arabesque Resort and Spa
– Sunrise Garden Beach Resort
– Sunrise Holidays
– Jaz Makadi Oasis Resort & Club
– Meraki Resort
– Sunrise Crystal Bay Resort
– TUI Blue Makadi Gardens
– Sunrise Romance Sahl Hasheesh
– Steigenberger Makadi
– Tropitel Sahl Hasheesh Hotel
– Sol Y Mar Soma Beach
– Mamlouk Palace Resort
– Sunrise Royal Makadi
– Aqua Blu
– Serenity Makadi Beach
– Ali Pasha
– Cleopatra Luxury Makadi Bay
– Old Palace Resort Sahl Hasheesh
– Baron Palace Sahl Hasheesh
– Sinbad Aqua Resort
– Jaz Bluemarine Resort
– Serenity Fun City Resort
– Jaz Casa Del Mar Resort
Sharm El Sheikh
– Coral Sea Waterworld
– Jaz Fanara Resort & Residence
– Iberotel Palace
– TUI Magic Life Sharm El Sheikh
– Reef Oasis Blue Bay Resort and Spa
– Xperienec St. George Homestay
– Jaz Mirabel Beach Hotel
– Jaz Mirabel Park Hotel
– TUI Sensatori Resort Sharm El Sheikh
– Holiday Village Red Sea
– Aqua Blu Sharm Hotel
– Steigenberger Alcazar
– Coral Sea Aqua Club
– Royal Albatros Moderna
– Sunrise Montemare Resort – Grand Select
– Sunrise Diamond Beach Resort
– Coral Sea Holiday Resort
Marsa Alam
– Steigenberger Coraya Beach
– Jaz Lamaya Resort
– Hilton Marsa Alam
– Jaz Dar El Madina
– Jaz Grand Marsa
– Sol Y Mar Reef Marsa
– Akassia Club Calimera
– Sunrise Marina Resort Port Ghalib
– TUI Blue Alaya
– Royal Tulip Beach Resort
First Choice
Hurghada
– TUI Magic Life Kalawy
– Jaz Makadi Aquaviva
– Jaz Makadi Saraya Splash Resort
– Jaz Aquamarine
– Premier Le Reve
– Fort Arabesque Resort and Spa
– Sunrise Garden Beach Resort
– Sunrise Holidays
– Jaz Makadi Oasis Resort & Club
– Meraki Resort
– Sunrise Crystal Bay Resort
– TUI Blue Makadi Gardens
– Sunrise Romance Sahl Hasheesh
– Steigenberger Makadi
– Tropitel Sahl Hasheesh Hotel
– Sol Y Mar Soma Beach
– Mamlouk Palace Resort
– Sunrise Royal Makadi
– Aqua Blu
– Serenity Makadi Beach
– Ali Pasha
– Cleopatra Luxury Makadi Bay
– Old Palace Resort Sahl Hasheesh
– Baron Palace Sahl Hasheesh
– Sinbad Aqua Resort
– Jaz Bluemarine Resort
– Serenity Fun City Resort
– Jaz Casa Del Mar Resort
Sharm El Sheikh
– Coral Sea Waterworld
– Iberotel Palace
– Jaz Fanara Resort & Residence
– TUI Magic Life Sharm El Sheikh
– Reef Oasis Blue Bay Resort and Spa
– Xperienec St. George Homestay
– Jaz Mirabel Beach Hotel
– Jaz Mirabel Park Hotel
– TUI Sensatori Resort Sharm El Sheikh
– Holiday Village Red Sea
– Aqua Blu Sharm Hotel
– Steigenberger Alcazar
– Coral Sea Aqua Club
– Royal Albatros Moderna
– Sunrise Montemare Resort – Grand Select
– Sunrise Diamond Beach Resort
– Coral Sea Holiday Resort
Marsa Alam Holidays
– Steigenberger Coraya Beach
– Jaz Lamaya Resort
– Hilton Marsa Alam
– Jaz Dar El Madina
– Jaz Grand Marsa
– Sol Y Mar Reef Marsa
– Akassia Club Calimera
– Sunrise Marina Resort Port Ghalib
– TUI Blue Alaya
– Royal Tulip Beach Resort
